Metz’s handball team won the 24th title as champions of France. They beat Brest 25-22 in the last return match of the championship.
After having won 26 of their regular season matches, Emmanuel Mayonnade’s team had to compete in the home-and-away final in order to regain the national title that they lost to Brest last year. After trailing for about ten minutes, the Messines took control of the match through Orlane Kanor, their left-back, who scored six goals in a span of fifteen minutes, just before half-time, and in the first period. The second period.
The match ended with the Dragonnes winning by three goals to the Brazilian Bruna De Paula. This was in front of a packed Arena. Metz won the match by three goals. If the Brestoises scored more, Metz had to win by three goals.
The final was played with two goals. Last year, Brest won their first title due to the number goals they scored away from home. Brest won at home 29-22, Metz won at home 31-24.
The Messines will now be focusing on the Champions League Final 4 in Budapest next weekend (4th place), while a semi-final against Kristiansand, the current European champions, will take place in six days (Saturday, 6 p.m.).
